Match Report : 04/05/2013

A 30th goal of the season for Jordan Rhodes ensured an unbeaten end to the 2012-13 campaign for Rovers at St. Andrews.

The Rovers striker struck just past the hour mark to cancel out Ravel Morrison's first half opener.

The first half belonged to the home side, Grzegorz Sandomierski superbly saving Nathan Redmond's thunderbolt before Morrison struck just before half time after meandering into the area.

Rovers improved after the break, David Jones denied by the fingertips of Jack Butland as his free-kick was touched onto the crossbar.

A minute later Rovers were level as Grant Hanley flicked on Morten Gamst Pedersen's throw, Jack Butland saved David Jones' header but the rebound fell to Rhodes and he made no mistake for his 28th goal in Rovers colours this season.

After that the game could have gone either way as both sides looked to end the season with a win, a draw the fair result on a day when results elsewhere took centre stage.

For the final game of the season Gary Bowyer made just the one change to his starting eleven from the draw against Crystal Palace.

Morten Gamst Pedersen was the man to get the nod to start with Nuno Gomes dropping to the bench.

In glorious May sunshine it was the home side who enjoyed the better of the play in an entertaining first half.

They set the tone inside sixty seconds when a Nikola Zigic lay-off presented Morgaro Gomis with a shooting opportunity but his effort flashed wide.

Lively forward Nathan Redmond was next to threaten but his shot after cutting inside wasn't troubling Grzegorz Sandomierski.

Rovers responded with some neat attacking play, particularly through Josh Morris and Joshua King but aside from a couple of corners, the Birmingham defence wasn't unduly tested.

Paul Caddis and Nikola Zigic both fired wide as Birmingham continued to pose the greater threat before the long arm of Jack Butland stopped Jordan Rhodes from rounding the goalkeeper after capitalising on an errant back pass.

A curling effort from Rhodes saw Butland down to save, whilst Sandomierski did superbly to push away a Nathan Redmond strike.

The half appeared to be drifting towards a goalless end when Birmingham struck three minutes before the break. Ravel Morrison taking advantage of several lacklustre challenges to skip his way into the area before firing low into the corner.

It was a disappointing goal to concede and a disappointing way to end the half.

Rovers were forced into a change at the break as Lee Williamson was unable to continue, Cameron Stewart on in his place.

The home side started strongly once more, Nathan Redmond a constant menace to the Rovers back line.

Slowly Rovers came back into the game, David Jones with a free-kick that Jack Butland had to tip onto the woodwork.

Rovers were denied a corner kick from that effort but shortly afterwards a long throw from Morten Gamst Pedersen was flicked on by Grant Hanley, David Jones saw his header saved but as the rebound popped up it fell to the one man you needed in such circumstances - Jordan Rhodes - and he made no mistake to notch his 30th goal in all competitions this season.

It took bravery from Grzegorz Sandomierski to keep the scores level, the Polish international claiming the ball at the feet of Zigic after Redmond had played him in.

Academy product John O'Sullivan was handed his senior debut with 14 minutes to go, the young Irishman quickly into the thick of the action with an important block to thwart Callum Reilly in the area.

At the other end Cameron Stewart saw a shot blocked before the ball fell to O'Sullivan but his shot was deflected wide.

Both sides went hunting a winner in the closing stages but one didn't come, a draw the fair result on the final day.